Money this. Finances that. Good credit, slow credit, bad credit, no credit. Budget now. Blow it all. 401K. IRA. Surely you’ve heard at least one of these.
Good stewardship is the fundamental financial principle. If you commit to a few simple practices, you’ll secure a healthy financial future.
Here’s the foundation:
Pay God first. Pay yourself next. Pay your bills on or before the due date. Watch things fall into place.
Tithing is at the forefront of stewardship. See it as trusting God with the resources that He’s kindly provided you. In the end, you will realize that He can accomplish more with your remaining 90% than you can with your 100 percent. Try the NIV Stewardship Study Bible for extra help.
Saving is the core of budgeting and self-discipline. Living within or below your means is beyond attractive, sexy, and fancy. New dresses, shoes, cars, jewelry, and furniture will be produced every minute, hour, day, week, month, and year. Most places you’d like to visit are not moving any time soon. We’re all human and we get tempted. I know how difficult it can be to stick with a budget, but it’s becoming easier and easier with resources provided by many banks. My personal favorite is www.learnvest.com!
Most people want a cookie for paying their bills on time. Realistically speaking, your credit score is that cookie. We could even call it a fortune cookie. Bad credit can easily defer a cash dependent dream. Unfortunately, people actually judge you by this system. Employers check it. Banks check it. Apartments check it. Cell phone companies check it. Department stores check it. Insurance companies check it. If you have established a credit history, you should definitely check it—for free of course. Point is, in many instances, people see your credit score before they see you. Don’t dismiss this; your credit is not limited to actual credit card accounts.
Since we’re on the subject of credit cards, they are the devil. Maybe devil is a little strong. Credit card lenders are predators. If you determine that you must have a credit card for EMERGENCY purposes, make sure that the limit is an amount that you can comfortably pay back within one month’s time. This means no minimum or monthly payments spread out over long periods of time accumulating interest and making an item or service extremely higher than it was initially. Pay that bill off each month in full! I suggest using the money within your checking account as often as possible. If you don’t have the cash, don’t make the purchase.
The entertainment industry along with the rest of the world sells multiple illusions that you can’t afford to buy. Tithe. Save. Give. Spend responsibly.
Guest Blogger: Staarland Thompson
Follow her on Twitter: @Staarland
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